moclure



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. E. MOOLURVE.

BUCKLE.

No. 519,546. Patented May 8, 1894.

THE NATlonAL LIYNOGRAFHING coMPANv.

WASHINGTON. u. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A; E. MoGL URE.

' BUCKLE. No. 519,546. Patented May 8, 1894.

0 iffy- E Suva/who;

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT E. MOCLURE, OF S EDAL IA, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE MOCLUREMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,546, dated May 8,1894.

Application filed July 11, 1893.

T0 aZ Z whom it may concern.-

l 3e 1t known that I, ALBERT E. MoOLURE,'a citizen of the United States,residing at Sedalia, in the county of Pettis and State of Missouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles; and I do herebydeclare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to buckles of that class which embody a baseplate or link upon which is pivoted an upper link carrying a cross baroperating in conjunction with an opening or cross bar of the under link.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and improved buckle ofthis class, which will possess advantages in point'of simplicity,convenience, inexpensiveness, durabllity, ease of operation,-effectiveness, and general efficiency.

In the drawings:-Figure 1 is a perspective vlew of a buckle embodying myimprovements, the strap being shown in position and the retaining linkbeing closed. Fig. 2 is a corresponding view with the retaining linkopen. Fig.3 is a detail sectional view, taken centrally through Fig. 1.Fig. 4 is a corresponding View, taken centrallythrough Fig. 2. Fig. 5 isa detail perspective view of the buckle, with the retaining link open.Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are detail views illustrating the construction andoperation of the pivotal looking connection for the retaining link.Fig.9 1s a perspective View illustrating a modification in which theretaining link is formed by a plate. Fig. 10 is a perspective view ofthe construction illustrated in Fig. 9, the retaining plate being open.Fig. 11 is aperspective view illustrating a double form of my improvedbuckle, the retaining plates being open. Fig. 12 is a perspective viewillustratlng a double form of my improved buckle with a singleretainingplate, the latter being shown in open position. Fig. 13 is aperspective view, illustrating (in dotted lines) a separate face platesecured to the retaining link.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same lettersof reference.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the base plate or main link,which is prefer- $erial No. 480,179- (No model.)

ably of open or skeletonform and comprises side bars, a a, a front crossbar a, a rear cross bar a and an intermediate cross bar, a".

B designates the upper pivotal link, which is preferably of open' orskeleton form and comprises across bar 6, a front projecting portion B,extending to about the front of the under link, and rearwardlyprojecting spring arms, I) b, which have a pivotal hearing upon theunder link at a point in rear of the intermediate cross bar a. Thispivotal connection between the upper link B and the main link or baseplateA is preferably formed by means of gudgeons or projecting ends, 6which are received in eyes or openings, a formed in the side bars a ofthe under link by downwardly bent portions, a, at the outer side andinwardly projecting lug, a at the inner side, said lug having recessesor shoulders, a, engaged by the spring arms of the pivotal link. Thebearing ends of these spring arms are sprung into the eyes or openings,and by engagement with the recessed or shouldered lugs the upper pivotallink is locked in position. The front projecting portion B of the upperpivotal link is preferably turned upwardly, as shown at b to facilitateengagement with the finger in the operation of liftmg.

C designates a pivoted retaining link, which is mounted at the front endof the main link or base plate A and is adapted to swing rearwardly overthe buckle. The retaining link C is preferably of approximately U -shapeand comprises spring side arms, 0 0, having projecting gudgeons or ends,0' c, which are mounted in eyes or openings, 0 0 formed in upwardlyprojecting lugs, C C, formed upon the side bars a of the main link orbase plate of the front end of the latter and provided link, upwardly infront of the front cross bar a of the latter, and through the retaininglink 0, when the latter may be sprung over on its pivot to the positionshown in Fig. 1, and the strap will be securely retained in positionwith only its front face exposed.

In lieu of having the retaining link of open or skeleton form, as shownin Fig- 2, it may be formed by a plate, P, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and10, said plate being preferably provided with projecting sides, p 19,adapted to inclose the buckle, and embodying the spring arms, 0, and thegudgeons or bearings 0 In this construction, the spring arms of theretaining plate preferably embrace the lugs O, as shown, and the plateis locked in position by the spring tension of said arms in engagementwith the lugs.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I have illustrated a double form of my improvedbuckle, in which the main link or base plate A is suitably extended indouble form and'provided with two upper links, one at either end, theretaining links or plates being correspondingly provided at both ends,as shown in Fig. 11. In connection with this double form of my improvedbuckle, especially when the latter is adapted for use as a belt buckle,a single retaining link or plate may be provided at the front end of thebuckle and extended suffi cient length to cover the double buckle andboth the upper links of the same, as illustrated in Fig. 12.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the preciseconstruction'and arrangement as herein shown and specified, as

numerous variations or modifications may be made in the detailconstruction and arrangement, especially in the pivotal lockin gconnection between the links,without departingfrom the spirit and scopeof my invention. I therefore reserve the right to all such modificationsor variations as properly fall within the terms and scope of thefollowing claims.

In Fig. 13, I have shown in dotted lines a separate face platesecured'to and carried by the retaining link, so that when the retaininglink is in closed position the face plate forms an ornamental frontwhich may be arranged to cover and conceal the entire buckle.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. An improved buckle, comprising a main link or baseplate having the intermediate cross bar a"; an upper link pivotallymounted upon the main link at a point in rear of the cross bar a" andhaving the cross bar 1) and the front projecting portion; and aretaining link comprising spring arms having gudgeons or ends bearing ineyes in recessed 0r shouldered lugs projecting from the sides of themain link at its front end, said pivotal retaining link being adapted toswing rearwardly over the front of the buckle and carry the strap;substantially as set forth.

2. An improved buckle, comprising a main link or base plate having theintermediate cross bar a and provided with hearing eyes or openings andprojecting locking devices; an upper link having the cross barb andfront projecting portions and provided with projecting spring armsbearing in the eyes or openings of the main plate and engaging thelocking devices thereon; and a retaining link comprising spring armspivotally mounted in eyes at the sides of the front end of the main linkand engaging locking devices thereon, the retaining link being adaptedto swing rearwardly over the front of the buckle and carry the strap;substantially as set forth.

3. In a buckle, the combination, with a main link or base plate having across bar, a. and with an upper link pivotally mounted upon the mainlink and provided with a cross bar, b, of a retaining linkhaving itsrear end pivotally mounted at the front of the main link and adapted toswing over rearward] y across the front of the buckle and carry thestrap; substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

R. 11. Moses, R. F. HARRIS.

